{"id":163009,"date":"2023-11-19T15:11:35","date_gmt":"2023-11-19T21:11:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/?p=163009"},"modified":"2023-11-19T15:12:33","modified_gmt":"2023-11-19T21:12:33","slug":"george-washington-and-the-near-killing-of-the-father-of-our-country","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/george-washington-and-the-near-killing-of-the-father-of-our-country\/","title":{"rendered":"George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"895\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.28.53-PM-895x1024.jpg\" alt=\"2 - Dr Dabbs - George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" class=\"wp-image-163026\" title=\"3 - George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.28.53-PM-895x1024.jpg 895w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.28.53-PM-262x300.jpg 262w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.28.53-PM-131x150.jpg 131w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.28.53-PM-768x878.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.28.53-PM.jpg 1030w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 895px) 100vw, 895px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">George Washington was the right man for the right time. His powerful personal influence on the development of our fledgling country cannot be overstated.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"yoast-reading-time__wrapper\"><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__icon\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" data-icon=\"clock\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" style=\"display:inline-block;vertical-align:-0.1em\" role=\"img\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M12 8v4l3 3m6-3a9 9 0 11-18 0 9 9 0 0118 0z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__spacer\" style=\"display:inline-block;width:1em\"><\/span><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__descriptive-text\">Estimated reading time:  <\/span><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__reading-time\">15<\/span><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__time-unit\"> minutes<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>George Washington came screaming into the world in 1732 in Westmoreland County in the then-British colony of Virginia. George was the eldest of six children born to Augustine and Mary Ball Washington. George\u2019s great-grandfather John emigrated to Virginia from England in 1656.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"688\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.29.14-PM-1024x688.jpg\" alt=\"2 - Dr Dabbs - George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" class=\"wp-image-163027\" title=\"3 - George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.29.14-PM-1024x688.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.29.14-PM-400x269.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.29.14-PM-150x101.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.29.14-PM-768x516.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.29.14-PM-1536x1032.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.29.14-PM.jpg 1864w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">George Washington was born into affluence.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents\"><h2>Table of contents<\/h2><ul><li><a href=\"#h-george-and-lawrence\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"george-washington-and-the-near-killing-of-the-father-of-our-country\" title=\"George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" data-level=\"2\">George and Lawrence<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-george-washington-starts-his-military-career\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"george-washington-and-the-near-killing-of-the-father-of-our-country\" title=\"George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" data-level=\"2\">George Washington Starts His Military Career<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-serving-the-british\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"george-washington-and-the-near-killing-of-the-father-of-our-country\" title=\"George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" data-level=\"2\">Serving The British<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-the-gathering-storm\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"george-washington-and-the-near-killing-of-the-father-of-our-country\" title=\"George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" data-level=\"2\">The Gathering Storm<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-the-various-dealings-of-george-washington\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"george-washington-and-the-near-killing-of-the-father-of-our-country\" title=\"George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" data-level=\"2\">The Various Dealings of George Washington<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-read-more-when-the-king-of-england-tried-to-kill-an-american-president-kind-of\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"george-washington-and-the-near-killing-of-the-father-of-our-country\" title=\"George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" data-level=\"2\">READ MORE: When the King of England Tried to Kill an American President, Kind of\u2026<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-the-main-event\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"george-washington-and-the-near-killing-of-the-father-of-our-country\" title=\"George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" data-level=\"2\">The Main Event<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-washington-comes-out-on-top\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"george-washington-and-the-near-killing-of-the-father-of-our-country\" title=\"George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" data-level=\"2\">Washington Comes Out On Top<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-the-rest-of-george-s-story\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"george-washington-and-the-near-killing-of-the-father-of-our-country\" title=\"George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" data-level=\"2\">The Rest of George&#8217;s Story<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-george-washington-nears-the-end\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"george-washington-and-the-near-killing-of-the-father-of-our-country\" title=\"George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" data-level=\"2\">George Washington Nears The End<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-what-may-have-happened\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"george-washington-and-the-near-killing-of-the-father-of-our-country\" title=\"George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" data-level=\"2\">What May Have Happened<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Augustine was a justice of the peace who had four children from a previous marriage. Their family holdings included some 5,000 acres that produced predominantly tobacco. Upon Augustine&#8217;s death, a portion of the family estate was transferred to George\u2019s older half-brother Lawrence, who named it Mount Vernon. At age 17, George\u2019s first taste of public service was as the official surveyor for Culpeper County, Virginia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"853\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.54.42-PM-853x1024.jpg\" alt=\"2 - Dr Dabbs - George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" class=\"wp-image-163028\" title=\"3 - George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.54.42-PM-853x1024.jpg 853w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.54.42-PM-250x300.jpg 250w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.54.42-PM-125x150.jpg 125w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.54.42-PM-768x922.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.54.42-PM.jpg 976w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">George Washington&#8217;s older half-brother Lawrence died fairly young.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-george-and-lawrence\">George and Lawrence<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1751 Lawrence contracted tuberculosis. That\u2019s tough to get rid of nowadays. It was massively worse back in the 18<sup>th<\/sup>&nbsp;century. George accompanied Lawrence to Barbados in hopes that the tropical air might help with his breathing. This was his sole trip outside the country. During this voyage, George contracted smallpox. He obviously survived the disease, but the ordeal left his face scarred.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"575\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.55.28-PM-1024x575.jpg\" alt=\"2 - Dr Dabbs - George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" class=\"wp-image-163029\" title=\"3 - George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.55.28-PM-1024x575.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.55.28-PM-400x224.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.55.28-PM-150x84.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.55.28-PM-768x431.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.55.28-PM.jpg 1308w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Mount Vernon, George Washington&#8217;s adult home, was quite the palatial spread.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Lawrence died in 1752. By then George\u2019s personal holdings included 2,315 acres of prime Virginia land. When Lawrence\u2019s widow passed in 1761 George inherited Mount Vernon as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"835\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.30.06-PM-835x1024.jpg\" alt=\"2 - Dr Dabbs - George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" class=\"wp-image-163031\" title=\"3 - George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.30.06-PM-835x1024.jpg 835w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.30.06-PM-245x300.jpg 245w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.30.06-PM-122x150.jpg 122w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.30.06-PM-768x942.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.30.06-PM.jpg 1008w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 835px) 100vw, 835px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The young Major George Washington got his first taste of combat during the French and Indian War.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-george-washington-starts-his-military-career\">George Washington Starts His Military Career<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1752 the lieutenant governor of Virginia appointed George Washington a Major in the local militia. As a former Army officer myself I find it somewhat disappointing that General Washington never got the pleasure of serving as a second lieutenant in a platoon someplace. In 1753 Washington was dispatched to demand that French forces abandon positions claimed by the British. Along the way, he parlayed with the Iroquois Confederation. The half-chief Tanacharison bestowed upon the militia officer the nickname Conotocaurius which loosely translates to \u201cDevourer of Villages.\u201d It seemed young George Washington\u2019s reputation was on the rise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"811\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.32.12-PM-1024x811.jpg\" alt=\"2 - Dr Dabbs - George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" class=\"wp-image-163032\" title=\"3 - George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.32.12-PM-1024x811.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.32.12-PM-379x300.jpg 379w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.32.12-PM-150x119.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.32.12-PM-768x608.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.32.12-PM-1536x1217.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.32.12-PM.jpg 1568w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">General Washington believed himself to be Providentially protected and was almost unnaturally brave as a result.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>While serving under British General Edward Braddock near modern-day Pittsburgh, Washington\u2019s troops were soundly trounced by a combined force of Indians and French Canadians. General Braddock was killed in action, and Washington was twice unhorsed. Washington afterward discovered four musket ball holes shot through his coat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"586\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.30.55-PM-1024x586.jpg\" alt=\"2 - Dr Dabbs - George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" class=\"wp-image-163033\" title=\"3 - George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.30.55-PM-1024x586.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.30.55-PM-400x229.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.30.55-PM-150x86.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.30.55-PM-768x440.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.30.55-PM-1536x879.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.30.55-PM-2048x1172.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Washington&#8217;s experience fighting for the British proved invaluable when he was called to face the Redcoats in battle.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-serving-the-british\">Serving The British<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>For most of a decade, George Washington served the British crown in the French and Indian War. By 1762 he was a brevet Brigadier General commanding a brigade. By the time he left the military and returned to Mount Vernon, he had developed keen insights into British military tactics. This experience would pay great dividends down the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"759\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.35.20-PM-1024x759.jpg\" alt=\"2 - Dr Dabbs - George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" class=\"wp-image-163030\" title=\"3 - George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.35.20-PM-1024x759.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.35.20-PM-400x296.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.35.20-PM-150x111.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.35.20-PM-768x569.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.35.20-PM-1536x1138.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.35.20-PM.jpg 1690w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">George and Martha Washington ultimately raised Martha&#8217;s two grandchildren. Martha seems a bit constipated in this painting.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>At age 26 Washington married the widow Martha Dandridge Custis. In so doing he inherited a one-third interest in another 18,000 acres. Their marriage was by all accounts a happy one. Together they raised two children from Martha\u2019s previous marriage and two subsequent grandchildren. George and Martha never had kids together. It has been speculated that George\u2019s smallpox might have rendered him sterile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"690\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.33.09-PM-1024x690.jpg\" alt=\"2 - Dr Dabbs - George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" class=\"wp-image-163034\" title=\"3 - George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.33.09-PM-1024x690.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.33.09-PM-400x269.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.33.09-PM-150x101.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.33.09-PM-768x517.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.33.09-PM-1536x1034.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.33.09-PM.jpg 1856w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">George Washington had a compelling command presence. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If I\u2019m counting correctly, by 1770 Washington owned around 50,000 acres of land. At six feet two inches tall, George Washington was also an exceptionally large man for his day. This formidable physical presence combined with his extensive land holdings and honorable military service set him up for a meteoric political career. However, throughout it all he remained devoted to Martha. In 1773 his stepdaughter Patsy had a seizure and died in his arms. Washington subsequently canceled his business engagements and remained at Martha\u2019s side for three months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-gathering-storm\">The Gathering Storm<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"765\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.53.20-PM-1024x765.jpg\" alt=\"2 - Dr Dabbs - George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" class=\"wp-image-163025\" title=\"3 - George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.53.20-PM-1024x765.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.53.20-PM-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.53.20-PM-150x112.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.53.20-PM-768x574.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.53.20-PM-1536x1148.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.53.20-PM.jpg 1742w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Schoolhouse Rock! rocks. Today&#8217;s woke generation likely couldn&#8217;t stomach such raw unfiltered patriotism.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In the 1770\u2019s the British became intolerably overbearing toward their American colonists. Anyone who has had American History in High School or watched Schoolhouse Rock! during Saturday morning cartoons knows the story. The Revolutionary War started with the Battles of Lexington and Concord in April 1775. When Washington was informed that war had begun he was reportedly \u201csobered and dismayed.\u201d By early May he was part of the Second Continental Congress.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"658\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.33.47-PM-1024x658.jpg\" alt=\"2 - Dr Dabbs - George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" class=\"wp-image-163024\" title=\"3 - George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.33.47-PM-1024x658.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.33.47-PM-400x257.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.33.47-PM-150x96.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.33.47-PM-768x494.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.33.47-PM-1536x987.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.33.47-PM.jpg 1954w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">George Washington was the obvious choice to lead the new Continental Army.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Congress voted to form the Continental Army on June 14, 1775. John and Sam Adams immediately nominated Washington as its commander-in-chief. He beat out John Hancock for the job. Congress elected him unanimously the following day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"868\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.30.39-PM-868x1024.jpg\" alt=\"2 - Dr Dabbs - George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" class=\"wp-image-163023\" title=\"3 - George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.30.39-PM-868x1024.jpg 868w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.30.39-PM-254x300.jpg 254w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.30.39-PM-127x150.jpg 127w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.30.39-PM-768x906.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.30.39-PM.jpg 1060w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 868px) 100vw, 868px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">General Washington accepted payment for his expenses but eschewed any formal salary. He was a wealthy man already, but he also recognized the gravitas of his posting and comported himself accordingly.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The day after that Washington addressed the Congress for the first time in uniform. He declined to take a paycheck and was respected as a man who could keep his personal ambition in check. In short order, Washington had appointed his staff officers and begun organizing his Army.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"497\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-8.01.09-PM-1024x497.jpg\" alt=\"2 - Dr Dabbs - George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" class=\"wp-image-163035\" title=\"3 - George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-8.01.09-PM-1024x497.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-8.01.09-PM-400x194.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-8.01.09-PM-150x73.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-8.01.09-PM-768x373.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-8.01.09-PM.jpg 1458w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A substantial percentage of Washington&#8217;s forces during the Revolutionary War were comprised of black men.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-various-dealings-of-george-washington\">The Various Dealings of George Washington<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Washington initially forbade the use of blacks as soldiers. Seeing an opportunity for exploitation, the British offered freedom to any enslaved persons willing to fight for the crown. Washington subsequently rescinded his prohibition. By the war\u2019s end, fully ten percent of his soldiers were of African descent. When the war was finally over Washington engaged the Treaty of Paris that returned his black soldiers to servitude.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"653\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.31.15-PM-1024x653.jpg\" alt=\"2 - Dr Dabbs - George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" class=\"wp-image-163022\" title=\"3 - George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.31.15-PM-1024x653.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.31.15-PM-400x255.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.31.15-PM-150x96.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.31.15-PM-768x490.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.31.15-PM-1536x979.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.31.15-PM.jpg 1964w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Washington&#8217;s crossing the Delaware looks sexy and all. However, all those guys in the background either drowned or died of hypothermia.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-read-more-when-the-king-of-england-tried-to-kill-an-american-president-kind-of\">READ MORE: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/andrew-jackson-american-president\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"george-washington-and-the-near-killing-of-the-father-of-our-country\" title=\"George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">When the King of England Tried to Kill an American President, Kind of\u2026<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Washington\u2019s crossing of the Delaware has been memorialized in art. However, this was one seriously squirrely military operation. Enormous chunks of floating ice made the voyage particularly perilous. Of the three long boats that set out on the crossing only Washington\u2019s survived. Two Continental soldiers who actually made it through the crossing stopped to rest on the far side and were found frozen to death the following morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-main-event\">The Main Event<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"466\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.38.41-PM.jpg\" alt=\"2 - Dr Dabbs - George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" class=\"wp-image-163010\" title=\"3 - George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.38.41-PM.jpg 466w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.38.41-PM-233x300.jpg 233w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.38.41-PM-117x150.jpg 117w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 466px) 100vw, 466px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Patrick Ferguson was a legendary British rifleman.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The Scotsman Captain Patrick Ferguson was purported to be the finest shot in the British Army. The remarkable precision rifle he wielded was his own creation and bore his name. On September 11, 1777, CPT Ferguson and three of his fellow sharpshooters crouched in the underbrush along Brandywine Creek looking for trouble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"310\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.41.28-PM-1024x310.jpg\" alt=\"The breechloading Ferguson rifle\" class=\"wp-image-163011\" title=\"3 - George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.41.28-PM-1024x310.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.41.28-PM-400x121.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.41.28-PM-150x45.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.41.28-PM-768x233.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.41.28-PM-1536x466.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.41.28-PM-2048x621.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The breechloading Ferguson rifle was a prescient combat tool.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The Ferguson rifle was lightyears ahead of its time. A rapid-fire breechloading rifled design in an era of muzzleloading smoothbores, the Ferguson would have changed the way wars were fought had it not been so expensive and susceptible to fouling. In the hands of its 33-year-old inventor, however, the Ferguson rifle was pure death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"634\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.41.09-PM-1024x634.jpg\" alt=\"The Ferguson rifle that almost killed George Washington\" class=\"wp-image-163013\" title=\"3 - George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.41.09-PM-1024x634.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.41.09-PM-400x248.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.41.09-PM-150x93.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.41.09-PM-768x476.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.41.09-PM-1536x951.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.41.09-PM-2048x1268.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Twisting the trigger guard opened the action of the Ferguson rifle for loading.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The first mounted rebel officer was adorned in the colorful mufti of a European Hussar. His compatriot also on horseback was an American in a tall-cocked hat. Ferguson dispatched his three comrades to snipe the pair of officers from concealment but then thought better of it. He felt that shooting men from their horses in ambush was ungentlemanly. Ferguson stayed his marksmen and shouted at the tall distinguished American.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"525\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.40.43-PM-1024x525.jpg\" alt=\"CPT Ferguson's rifle could have killed George Washington\" class=\"wp-image-163012\" title=\"3 - George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.40.43-PM-1024x525.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.40.43-PM-400x205.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.40.43-PM-150x77.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.40.43-PM-768x394.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.40.43-PM-1536x787.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.40.43-PM-2048x1049.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">CPT Ferguson&#8217;s remarkable rifle was amazingly advanced for its era.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>George Washington looked in his direction but still remained oblivious to the deadly threat that was nearby. Ferguson leveled his own rifle but thought better of shooting a man in the back as he cantered away. The British rifleman later said, \u201cI could have lodged half a dozen balls in or about him, before he was out of my reach, but it was not pleasant to fire at the back of an unoffending individual, who was acquitting himself very coolly of his duty\u2014so I let him alone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"368\" height=\"446\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.38.08-PM.jpg\" alt=\"2 - Dr Dabbs - George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" class=\"wp-image-163015\" title=\"3 - George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.38.08-PM.jpg 368w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.38.08-PM-248x300.jpg 248w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.38.08-PM-124x150.jpg 124w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 368px) 100vw, 368px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">CPT Ferguson stayed his hand and, in so doing, inadvertently saved a nation.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-washington-comes-out-on-top\">Washington Comes Out On Top<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>General Washington lost the Battle of Brandywine Creek but ultimately won the war. The day after this episode an American ball shattered CPT Ferguson&#8217;s right elbow. While he recovered he taught himself to fight and write left-handed. Some while later on a night operation he caught a friendly British bayonet in his left arm. He remained in the fight by managing his horse\u2019s reins with his teeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"707\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.39.26-PM-1024x707.jpg\" alt=\"2 - Dr Dabbs - George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" class=\"wp-image-163014\" title=\"3 - George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.39.26-PM-1024x707.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.39.26-PM-400x276.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.39.26-PM-150x104.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.39.26-PM-768x531.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.39.26-PM-1536x1061.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.39.26-PM.jpg 1876w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Patrick Ferguson ultimately died hard.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Ferguson was the master of the unconventional fight, terrorizing patriot families across Virginia and the Carolinas. In late September 1780, Ferguson was overrun and killed at Kings Mountain while commanding some 1,000 Tory troops. The world will never know what might have come of it had Ferguson not held his fire that fateful day along Brandywine Creek.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-rest-of-george-s-story\">The Rest of George&#8217;s Story<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"697\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.35.49-PM-1024x697.jpg\" alt=\"2 - Dr Dabbs - George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" class=\"wp-image-163020\" title=\"3 - George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.35.49-PM-1024x697.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.35.49-PM-400x272.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.35.49-PM-150x102.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.35.49-PM-768x522.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.35.49-PM-1536x1045.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.35.49-PM.jpg 1820w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Like most wealthy landowners of his era, George Washington maintained ample slave holdings. He privately confided to his secretary that he found slavery repugnant on its face. The world was obviously a very different place then.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>George Washington contracted and survived diphtheria, smallpox, dysentery, pneumonia, tuberculosis, and malaria during his 67 years. By the time he was inaugurated in 1789, Washington had only one original operational tooth. Contrary to legend, his various dentures were made from both animal and human teeth but never wood. Over the course of his lifetime, Washington owned some 577 slaves. He freed one, William Lee, upon his death and stipulated that another 123 be freed upon his wife\u2019s passing. Martha actually granted these slaves their freedom before she died just to remove their incentive to kill her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"678\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.49.45-PM-1024x678.jpg\" alt=\"Mount Vernon, George Washington's home\" class=\"wp-image-163021\" title=\"3 - George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.49.45-PM-1024x678.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.49.45-PM-400x265.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.49.45-PM-150x99.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.49.45-PM-768x509.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.49.45-PM-1536x1017.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.49.45-PM.jpg 1890w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Washington&#8217;s extraordinary land holdings required constant supervision and upkeep.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>On December 12, 1799, George Washington took a tour of his estate on horseback. He came home late and entertained guests who described him as cheerful. Later that evening he complained of chest congestion but little else. The following morning he had a terrific sore throat and difficulty breathing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"701\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.34.42-PM-1024x701.jpg\" alt=\"2 - Dr Dabbs - George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" class=\"wp-image-163017\" title=\"3 - George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.34.42-PM-1024x701.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.34.42-PM-400x274.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.34.42-PM-150x103.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.34.42-PM-768x526.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.34.42-PM-1536x1051.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.34.42-PM.jpg 1788w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">It has been alleged that George Washington might have died of medical malpractice. Practitioners of the medical arts had precious few effective tools at their disposal back then.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-george-washington-nears-the-end\">George Washington Nears The End<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Three physicians were summoned who proceeded to drain five pints of blood from the poor man. Bloodletting was the medical solution to most anything back then. One of his doctors considered a tracheotomy, but the other two dissuaded him. Washington purportedly told his primary physician, \u201cDoctor, I die hard, but I\u2019m not afraid to go.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"708\" height=\"864\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.36.19-PM.jpg\" alt=\"2 - Dr Dabbs - George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" class=\"wp-image-163016\" title=\"3 - George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.36.19-PM.jpg 708w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.36.19-PM-246x300.jpg 246w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.36.19-PM-123x150.jpg 123w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 708px) 100vw, 708px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Tobias Lear was one of George Washington&#8217;s closest confidants.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Near the end, Washington left instructions with Tobias Lear, his personal secretary, that they wait three days before burying him to ensure he wasn\u2019t entombed alive. Late in the evening on the 14th&nbsp;with Martha at the foot of his bed, George Washington breathed his last. His final words were, \u201cTis well.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"811\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.48.30-PM-1024x811.jpg\" alt=\"Epiglottitis, the infection that very well may have killed George Washington\" class=\"wp-image-163019\" title=\"3 - George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.48.30-PM-1024x811.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.48.30-PM-379x300.jpg 379w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.48.30-PM-150x119.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.48.30-PM-768x609.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.48.30-PM.jpg 1146w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Behold epiglottitis. I was initially drawn into medicine for the glamor&#8230;I&#8217;m kidding. Being a doctor is the nastiest job in the world.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-may-have-happened\">What May Have Happened<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Washington\u2019s medical malady sounds like epiglottitis to me. Epiglottitis is a wretched condition wherein the epiglottis, that little dangly thing in the back of your throat, gets severely inflamed. This can get so bad it interferes with respiration. Having five units of blood removed likely didn\u2019t do much to help the situation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"441\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.36.45-PM-1024x441.jpg\" alt=\"2 - Dr Dabbs - George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" class=\"wp-image-163018\" title=\"3 - George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.36.45-PM-1024x441.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.36.45-PM-400x172.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.36.45-PM-150x65.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.36.45-PM-768x331.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.36.45-PM.jpg 1208w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">George Washington left an undeniable mark on the world.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>George Washington was a flawed man, as are we all, but he had an undeniably charmed life. He was the right man at the right time to birth the greatest nation the world has ever seen. Even the most jaded observer can see the forces of Divine Providence at work throughout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\" style=\"font-size:24px\"><strong><em>*** <a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"george-washington-and-the-near-killing-of-the-father-of-our-country\" title=\"George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Buy and Sell on GunsAmerica!<\/a> ***<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>George Washington was a flawed man, as are we all, but he had an undeniably charmed life. He was the right man at the right time to birth the greatest nation the world has ever seen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":66,"featured_media":163034,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_specdata_upc":"","_specdata_placement":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7,234,257,772],"tags":[102,1322,2703,2836],"featured":[],"hunt365":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-163009","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-gunsamerica-authors","8":"category-columns","9":"category-historical-guns","10":"category-will-dabbs","11":"tag-feature-articles","12":"tag-historic-gun","13":"tag-war","14":"tag-will-dabbs"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.3 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Dr Dabbs - The Near Killing of George Washington<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"George Washington did a lot for our country! And faced death countless times, always coming out on top and leading us to freedom.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/george-washington-and-the-near-killing-of-the-father-of-our-country\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"George Washington was a flawed man, as are we all, but he had an undeniably charmed life. He was the right man at the right time to birth the greatest nation the world has ever seen.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/george-washington-and-the-near-killing-of-the-father-of-our-country\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Gun Reviews and News | GunsAmerica.com\/Digest\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/gunsamerica\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/will.dabbs.9\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-11-19T21:11:35+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-11-19T21:12:33+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.33.09-PM.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1856\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1250\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Will Dabbs\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@gunsamerica\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@gunsamerica\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Will Dabbs\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"15 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/george-washington-and-the-near-killing-of-the-father-of-our-country\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/george-washington-and-the-near-killing-of-the-father-of-our-country\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Will Dabbs\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/4b818f415191c071a88bdc0d8cb33eca\"},\"headline\":\"George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-11-19T21:11:35+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-11-19T21:12:33+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/george-washington-and-the-near-killing-of-the-father-of-our-country\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":2118,\"commentCount\":2,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/george-washington-and-the-near-killing-of-the-father-of-our-country\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/04\\\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.33.09-PM.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Feature Articles\",\"historic gun\",\"war\",\"Will Dabbs\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Authors\",\"Columns\",\"Historical Guns\",\"Will Dabbs\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/george-washington-and-the-near-killing-of-the-father-of-our-country\\\/#respond\"]}],\"accessibilityFeature\":[\"tableOfContents\"]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/george-washington-and-the-near-killing-of-the-father-of-our-country\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/george-washington-and-the-near-killing-of-the-father-of-our-country\\\/\",\"name\":\"Dr Dabbs - The Near Killing of George Washington\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/george-washington-and-the-near-killing-of-the-father-of-our-country\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/george-washington-and-the-near-killing-of-the-father-of-our-country\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/04\\\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.33.09-PM.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-11-19T21:11:35+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-11-19T21:12:33+00:00\",\"description\":\"George Washington did a lot for our country! And faced death countless times, always coming out on top and leading us to freedom.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/george-washington-and-the-near-killing-of-the-father-of-our-country\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/george-washington-and-the-near-killing-of-the-father-of-our-country\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/george-washington-and-the-near-killing-of-the-father-of-our-country\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/04\\\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.33.09-PM.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/04\\\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.33.09-PM.jpg\",\"width\":1856,\"height\":1250,\"caption\":\"George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\ufffc\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/george-washington-and-the-near-killing-of-the-father-of-our-country\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/\",\"name\":\"Gun Reviews and News | GunsAmerica.com\\\/Digest\",\"description\":\"Gun Reviews, Industry News, and Product Reviews for Rifles, Pistols, Revolvers, Shotguns, Optics, and Ammunition. Looking to purchase a firearm online? Look no further than GunsAmerica.com, America&#039;s premier destination for buying and selling firearms.\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"GunsAmerica\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/image-3.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/image-3.png\",\"width\":286,\"height\":156,\"caption\":\"GunsAmerica\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/gunsamerica\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/gunsamerica\",\"https:\\\/\\\/instagram.com\\\/gunsamerica_official\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/user\\\/GunsAmerica\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/4b818f415191c071a88bdc0d8cb33eca\",\"name\":\"Will Dabbs\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/3f92754a3ed333ac83169c15688576870270fedca39840d42964bdc8aba0f8bc?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/3f92754a3ed333ac83169c15688576870270fedca39840d42964bdc8aba0f8bc?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/3f92754a3ed333ac83169c15688576870270fedca39840d42964bdc8aba0f8bc?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Will Dabbs\"},\"description\":\"Will is still trying to figure out what he really wants to be when he grows up. However, shooting guns and claiming it was work seemed like a pretty sweet hustle. As a result, Will serendipitously transformed an avocation into a vocation. Raised in the Mississippi Delta, Will flew UH1H, OH58A\\\/C, CH47D and AH1S helicopters operationally as an Army Aviator. He is SCUBA-qualified and has parachuted out of perfectly good airplanes at 3 o'clock in the morning. Will has summited Mount McKinley, Alaska, six times\u2026always at the controls of an Army helicopter, which is the only way sensible folk climb mountains. Will has delivered sixty babies and occasionally wrung human blood out of his socks. He is married to his high school sweetheart and has three awesome adult children. Turn-ons include vintage German machineguns, flying his sexy-cool RV6A airplane, Count Chocula cereal and the movie \u201cAliens.\u201d www.word-monkey.com Experience: -Professional Writer-thousands of publishing credits for dozens of titles -Mechanical Engineer\\\/Practicing Physician -Instrument-rated Commercial Pilot -Sunday School Teacher\",\"sameAs\":[\"http:\\\/\\\/www.word-monkey.com\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/will.dabbs.9\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/drwildmanmd\\\/\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/author\\\/willdabbs\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Dr Dabbs - The Near Killing of George Washington","description":"George Washington did a lot for our country! And faced death countless times, always coming out on top and leading us to freedom.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/george-washington-and-the-near-killing-of-the-father-of-our-country\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country","og_description":"George Washington was a flawed man, as are we all, but he had an undeniably charmed life. He was the right man at the right time to birth the greatest nation the world has ever seen.","og_url":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/george-washington-and-the-near-killing-of-the-father-of-our-country\/","og_site_name":"Gun Reviews and News | GunsAmerica.com\/Digest","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/gunsamerica","article_author":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/will.dabbs.9","article_published_time":"2023-11-19T21:11:35+00:00","article_modified_time":"2023-11-19T21:12:33+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1856,"height":1250,"url":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.33.09-PM.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Will Dabbs","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@gunsamerica","twitter_site":"@gunsamerica","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Will Dabbs","Est. reading time":"15 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/george-washington-and-the-near-killing-of-the-father-of-our-country\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/george-washington-and-the-near-killing-of-the-father-of-our-country\/"},"author":{"name":"Will Dabbs","@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/#\/schema\/person\/4b818f415191c071a88bdc0d8cb33eca"},"headline":"George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country","datePublished":"2023-11-19T21:11:35+00:00","dateModified":"2023-11-19T21:12:33+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/george-washington-and-the-near-killing-of-the-father-of-our-country\/"},"wordCount":2118,"commentCount":2,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/george-washington-and-the-near-killing-of-the-father-of-our-country\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.33.09-PM.jpg","keywords":["Feature Articles","historic gun","war","Will Dabbs"],"articleSection":["Authors","Columns","Historical Guns","Will Dabbs"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/george-washington-and-the-near-killing-of-the-father-of-our-country\/#respond"]}],"accessibilityFeature":["tableOfContents"]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/george-washington-and-the-near-killing-of-the-father-of-our-country\/","url":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/george-washington-and-the-near-killing-of-the-father-of-our-country\/","name":"Dr Dabbs - The Near Killing of George Washington","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/george-washington-and-the-near-killing-of-the-father-of-our-country\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/george-washington-and-the-near-killing-of-the-father-of-our-country\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.33.09-PM.jpg","datePublished":"2023-11-19T21:11:35+00:00","dateModified":"2023-11-19T21:12:33+00:00","description":"George Washington did a lot for our country! And faced death countless times, always coming out on top and leading us to freedom.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/george-washington-and-the-near-killing-of-the-father-of-our-country\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/george-washington-and-the-near-killing-of-the-father-of-our-country\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/george-washington-and-the-near-killing-of-the-father-of-our-country\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.33.09-PM.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.33.09-PM.jpg","width":1856,"height":1250,"caption":"George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country\ufffc"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/george-washington-and-the-near-killing-of-the-father-of-our-country\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"George Washington and the Near Killing of the Father of Our Country"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/#website","url":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/","name":"Gun Reviews and News | GunsAmerica.com\/Digest","description":"Gun Reviews, Industry News, and Product Reviews for Rifles, Pistols, Revolvers, Shotguns, Optics, and Ammunition. Looking to purchase a firearm online? Look no further than GunsAmerica.com, America&#039;s premier destination for buying and selling firearms.","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/#organization","name":"GunsAmerica","url":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-3.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-3.png","width":286,"height":156,"caption":"GunsAmerica"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/gunsamerica","https:\/\/x.com\/gunsamerica","https:\/\/instagram.com\/gunsamerica_official\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/GunsAmerica"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/#\/schema\/person\/4b818f415191c071a88bdc0d8cb33eca","name":"Will Dabbs","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3f92754a3ed333ac83169c15688576870270fedca39840d42964bdc8aba0f8bc?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3f92754a3ed333ac83169c15688576870270fedca39840d42964bdc8aba0f8bc?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3f92754a3ed333ac83169c15688576870270fedca39840d42964bdc8aba0f8bc?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Will Dabbs"},"description":"Will is still trying to figure out what he really wants to be when he grows up. However, shooting guns and claiming it was work seemed like a pretty sweet hustle. As a result, Will serendipitously transformed an avocation into a vocation. Raised in the Mississippi Delta, Will flew UH1H, OH58A\/C, CH47D and AH1S helicopters operationally as an Army Aviator. He is SCUBA-qualified and has parachuted out of perfectly good airplanes at 3 o'clock in the morning. Will has summited Mount McKinley, Alaska, six times\u2026always at the controls of an Army helicopter, which is the only way sensible folk climb mountains. Will has delivered sixty babies and occasionally wrung human blood out of his socks. He is married to his high school sweetheart and has three awesome adult children. Turn-ons include vintage German machineguns, flying his sexy-cool RV6A airplane, Count Chocula cereal and the movie \u201cAliens.\u201d www.word-monkey.com Experience: -Professional Writer-thousands of publishing credits for dozens of titles -Mechanical Engineer\/Practicing Physician -Instrument-rated Commercial Pilot -Sunday School Teacher","sameAs":["http:\/\/www.word-monkey.com","https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/will.dabbs.9","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/drwildmanmd\/"],"url":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/author\/willdabbs\/"}]}},"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-30-at-7.33.09-PM-150x101.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/163009","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/66"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=163009"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/163009\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":194808,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/163009\/revisions\/194808"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/163034"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=163009"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=163009"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=163009"},{"taxonomy":"featured","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/featured?post=163009"},{"taxonomy":"hunt365","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hunt365?post=163009"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}